Ford Rallye Sport enters French Rally championship
BIRMINGHAM, England, 10 January 2002 -- Ford France will be entering a two-car team of British-built Puma Super 1600 rally cars in the French national championship this year. One of the toughest national series in Europe, the 2002 French ...
BIRMINGHAM, England, 10 January 2002 -- Ford France will be entering a two-car team of British-built Puma Super 1600 rally cars in the French national championship this year. One of the toughest national series in Europe, the 2002 French championship has attracted works entries from Citroen, Peugeot, Renault and Ford.
The Ford France Pumas will be driven by the hugely-experienced Patrick Magaud and new-signing Nicolas Bernardi. Magaud piloted a Rapid Fit Puma in the British Formula Rally series of 2001, finishing runner-up to team mate Martin Rowe in the title fight. Ford Racing's official test driver, Magaud will enjoy sponsorship from Speedy, the French Kwik-Fit chain of auto retailers, while Bernardi has backing from IdeeFord, a Ford Credit financing service.
"Bernardi was the quickest of several young drivers we tested at Gaydon late last year," commented Philip Dunabin, Engineering Manager for Ford's Super 1600 programme. "He has a great deal of potential and if that is fulfilled, we hope to be in a position to help him enter the Junior World Championship in 2003."
The two French Championship Puma Super 1600 rally cars will be built and run on event by Ford Rallye Sport from its Boreham base in Essex, England.
<pre> Ford Puma Super 1600 entries Driver/Co-driver Nationality Team Patrick Magaud / Guylene Brun French Ford Rallye Sport Nicolas Bernardi / Delphine Bernardi French Ford Rallye Sport
French National Rally Championship - 2002 Event Dates Surface Rallye de l'Auxerrois 4-5 May gravel Rallye d'Alsace 31 May-2 June asphalt Rallye du Limousin 28-30 June asphalt Rallye du Mont Blanc 6-8 September asphalt Rallye du Touquet 4-6 October asphalt Rallye des Cardabelles 19-20 October gravel Rallye du Var 29 Nov-1 December asphalt
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